Study in Nutrition Science at the doctoral level leads to the Doctor of Philosophy degree and must be completed in one of the two concentrations: cellular and molecular nutrition or community nutrition.
Concentrations
Cellular and Molecular Nutrition
Community Nutrition
Campus Code
Knoxville Campus
Admissions Standards/Procedures
- A complete file for review includes:
- Graduate Application for Admission
- Completed departmental application form
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the general section
- Three Graduate Rating Forms completed by individuals who can attest to the applicant’s potential for graduate education
- More information is provided on the Department of Nutrition page of this catalog.
- For those lacking only the introductory nutrition prerequisite, the student will be required to complete this or a similar class upon admission to our program.
Cellular and Molecular Nutrition Concentration
A graduate student works closely with a faculty advisor and his or her graduate committee on an original, independent research project and completed dissertation. Doctoral study in the cellular and molecular nutrition concentration prepares the student for research and/or teaching positions in institutions of higher education, government or industry.
Credit Hours Required
A minimum of 72 graduate credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 48 graduate credit hours beyond the Master’s. If courses below were not taken at the Master’s level, they must be taken at the Doctorate level. If the courses below were taken at the Master’s level, other courses will be required to satisfy the credit hour requirements. See the department website and graduate handbook for more details.
Required Courses
- Required Courses (16 credit hours)
- Non-Nutrition Course Requirements (10 credit hours)
- BCMB 440 (3 credit hours)
- LFSC 520 (4 credit hours)
- Appropriate substitutions for LFSC 520 or BCMB 440 , if required, must be approved by the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies.
- Additional 3 credit graduate course (graded A-F) outside the NUTR department, as identified by faculty advisor and approved by the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies
- Statistics (STAT) (6 credit hours), or other appropriate statistics courses offered by other departments as identified by faculty advisor and approved by the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies
- Additional Courses at the Graduate Level to make up for any credit hour deficiencies (up to 16 credit hours) as identified by faculty advisor and approved by the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies; this may not apply to students who have completed a Master’s degree prior to beginning the Doctorate program.
- NUTR 600 (24 credit hours)
Additional Course Requirements
- At least 9 credit hours taken to fulfill requirements must be at the 600-level (exclusive of dissertation NUTR 600 ).
- A minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the Master’s degree is required.
- A minimum of 12 of these 24 credit hours must be graded A-F.
- Exceptionally well-prepared students with demonstrated superior achievement may enter upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, in which case a minimum of 48 credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree is required.
- A minimum of 30 of these 48 credit hours must be graded A-F.
Non-Course Requirements
- Completion of an independent research project is required.
- An open proposal hearing is required prior to beginning the research project.
- An oral comprehensive examination is required upon completion of the dissertation.
Community Nutrition Concentration
A graduate student works closely with a faculty advisor and his or her graduate committee on an original, independent research project and completed dissertation. Doctoral study in the community nutrition concentration prepares the student for research, teaching, and/or advanced-level practice in institutions of higher education, government, or the public and private sectors.
Credit Hours Required
A minimum of 72 graduate credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 48 graduate credit hours beyond the Master’s. If courses below were not taken at the Master’s level, they must be taken at the Doctorate level. If the courses below were taken at the Master’s level, other courses will be required to satisfy the credit hour requirements. See the department website and graduate handbook for more details.
Required Courses
- Required Courses (21 credit hours)
- Statistics (STAT) (6 credit hours), or other appropriate statistics courses offered by other departments as identified by faculty advisor and approved by the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies
- Additional Courses at the Graduate Level to make up for any credit hour deficiencies (up to 18 credit hours) as identified by faculty advisor and approved by the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies; this may not apply to students who have completed a Master’s degree prior to beginning the Doctorate program.
- NUTR 600 (24 credit hours)
Additional Course Requirements
- A minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the Master’s degree is required.
- A minimum of 12 of these 24 credit hours must be graded A-F.
- Exceptionally well-prepared students with demonstrated superior achievement may enter upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, in which case a minimum of 48 credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree is required.
- A minimum of 30 of these 48 credit hours must be graded A-F.
Non-Course Requirements
- Completion of an independent research project is required.
- An open proposal hearing is required prior to beginning the research project.
- An oral comprehensive examination is required upon completion of the dissertation.
